Cause of Migraines

Missing A Few Pieces – Migraine Headaches

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If you have ever had a migraine you know how it affects your health and well being. It is not just another headache. If you are not sure if you have ever had one, here is a brief rendition of a bad one…

I suffer from migraine headaches. Plagued for many years, I do not know why I get them and the doctors have a wide variety of opinions. Today’s migraine was a doozy.

If you have ever had a migraine you know. If you are not sure if you have had one, here is a brief rendition of a bad one…

I dropped my daughter off at nursery school. I had a few hours to get through my list of errands. First stop was Sears to take care of some billing matter. I was in the store for quite some time and they had floruesant lighting. This is a known culprit for causing a migraine headache. There is something about the flickering pattern of the lights that goes unnoticed by most people. The zigzag patterns and flashes of electric light started echoing in my eyes. No one else can see them except me and other migraine sufferers. When the zigzags start it makes it difficult to see clearly. I was happy to get out of there, but not happy that I had a migraine coming on.

The next stop was Kmart. I only had one item that I needed to buy, but I would have liked to comb through the store and do some shopping. The flickers of electric light intensified in my eye sockets. This reminded me to get what I came for and get out of there as soon as possible.

I was hungry, so I thought that might be aggravating the migraine (another reported cause of migraines – low blood sugar). I stopped to get something to eat. I still had some grocery shopping on my agenda, so I ate lunch quickly. I watched the clock and tried my best to out run the inevitable.

Migraine Triggers synopsis from http://www.NYM.org
A wide range of events and conditions can alter conditions in the brain that bring on nerve excitation and trigger migraines. They include, but are not limited to the following:
– Emotional stress (although the headaches often erupt after the stress has eased).
– Intense physical exertion.
– Abrupt weather changes.
– Bright or flickering lights.
– High altitude.
– Travel motion.
– Changes in sleep patterns.
– Low blood sugar has been known to trigger headaches and fasting can often precipitate migraines.
– Chemicals found in certain foods may trigger headaches in some people. More than 100 foods have the capacity to trigger migraine headache.

At the supermarket, my migraine headache was in full swing. My patience was wearing thin, my list of items was not near complete and the numbness started in my left hand. By the time I got to the check out counter I was nauseous. The numbness had moved from my left hand, across my face and was tingling my right hand. The woman at the counter asked if I was ok as I flexed my right hand trying to regain feeling. I was afraid and unable to talk at that point I just shock my head, no. Once I get to that stage of the migraine my speech is impaired. I am unable to speak in complete sentences, so I did not even try to answer her. I made it to the car in a complete panic.

The supermarket was only a few minutes drive from my house. I pulled in the driveway, dropped my pocketbook at the door and left the groceries in the car. I yelled to my husband to pick up my daughter and get the groceries. I took a few aspirins and went straight to bed. A cold compress and sleep is the only remedy that works for my migraines.

Three hours later, my husband woke me up for dinner – God bless his soul. He knows my migraine routine all too well and took care of the kids while I was on sabbatical.

It took about an hour after waking up to fully recover. The migraine was gone, but I did not have much of an appetite. Your brain also feels like it has voids. Empty spaces that need to come together before you feel normal again. It is an unsettling feeling not being in control of your mind. The aftermath is like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle, but you are missing a few pieces.

About the author:
Suzi Batta aka Mrs. Long Island is the Chief Operating Officer of LongIsland.com, a local guide with free news, weather, maps, classifieds, business, press releases, jobs, real estate, experts, articles, events, restaurants, schools, towns, newsletter, night life, lirr, shopping, malls, info, weddings Long Island New York.

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Symptoms And Causes Of Migraine Headache

Migraines can be a real problem especially when you are working 9 to 5 and you just can’t afford to be unproductive at work. There is however nothing you can do as headaches like these can be so severe that it can affect your concentration and your mood. Migraine headaches are recurrent headaches that occur on one side of the head.

Compared to the usual type of headache, the tension headache, which often occur on the entire head area, the pain in migraine headaches is more localized and much more specialized. It is however harder to predict when it will occur as migraine headaches do not present any warning signs. In fact, these types of headache will just happen when you least expect it to.

Natural ways to avoid a migraine starting.

There are however kinds of migraines where some symptoms may be observed. One type is what is commonly called as the classic migraine headache where in the person suffering from it may see a hallucination called ‘aura’ before it actually occurs. Auras are visual hallucinations that resemble lights or zigzagging lines in the person’s line of vision. The hallucination can last from about 15 minutes up to an hour. The duration vary from one case to another. There may also be pain in the areas surrounding the eyes, temporary blind spots and blurred vision.

Still, it does not happen out of the blue. Although the underlying causes of migraine headaches is still up for debate, there are predisposing factors that can trigger its attack. Migraine headaches are basically caused by the inflammation or constriction of the blood vessels in the head. The changes in the size of the vessels may be due to some medical conditions such as lesions and inflammations caused by infections. If the migraine headaches become severe and frequent, it is important that you go to your doctor and seek medical help.

Environmental and other physiological factors may also contribute in the occurrence of migraine headaches. One factor is stress-related. Over exertion and over fatigue especially in the eye area can cause severe migraine. Depression and anxiety are also factors that you should look into.

Other medical conditions that can start a migraine attack are colds, cough, influenza, and sinusitis. Food and diet may also play a role. Some experts believe that eating chocolates, drinking coffee and abusing alcoholic drinks may contribute in the attack. Sensorial triggers such as over bright lights, too much noise and strong odors may also trigger an attack.

By: Low Jeremy -

Low Jeremy maintains Headache.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

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Natural Ways To Relieve Migraine Headache

Migraine is a throbbing headache that often has other accompanying symptoms. Some of these symptoms include light sensitivity, nausea and extreme pain on one side of the head. A migraine headache can be debilitating. Doctors often prescribe drug medications; however, these may not always work and can have side effects. Many migraine sufferers resort to home remedies and herbal remedies as natural ways to relieve migraine.

Here are some migraine home remedies that you can try.

Most sufferers experience repeated migraine attacks and recognize early signs of one that is starting. When you feel the first signs of a migraine, drink a caffeinated beverage. The caffeine helps open constricted blood vessels and can shorten the duration and severity of a migraine.

A bath or shower may ease the symptoms at the beginning of a migraine. Use aromatherapy bath gels or salts to aid relaxation. Try lavender, peppermint, Melissa, bay, eucalyptus or jasmine oils which all have properties that can minimize migraine symptoms. These essential oils can also be diluted and applied to the skin or inhaled. Mix them with another oil, such as almond or sesame oil before applying to the skin.

Since tension often spurs a migraine, easing muscle tension with a massage can be beneficial. A facial massage can easily be done by you. Apply pressure to your face using your thumbs. Move your thumbs in small circular motions on your forehead and cheeks.

Apply a cool compress or towel to the forehead and sit in a quiet, darkened room. Many migraine sufferers report sensitivity to light and sound, especially during the beginning phase of a migraine. You can also try a warm foot soak. This soothes you and promotes blood circulation throughout the body.

Drink plenty of liquids. The migraine itself may cause you to urinate more than usual. To make up for this liquid loss in the body you should consume more water or juice. Dehydration causes headaches and can actually increase the pain of a migraine so be sure you keep up on your liquid intake for the duration of the migraine.

Stress can be a migraine trigger. Learning to control stress in your life can successfully eliminate this trigger, thus preventing migraine. There are several ways to manage stress and promote relaxation. Meditation uses rhythmic breathing to calm the mind and focuses your mental energy inward. Exercise is an excellent way to relieve built up stress. A regular exercise regime will keep stress at bay. Yoga combines stretching and meditation, and can be practiced almost anywhere. To reduce stress, maintain a regular schedule and don’t try to take on too much.

Natural migraine remedies can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. If you are on prescribed medications, discuss with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies. Chronic headaches may indicate an underlying health problem or illness. It is important to obtain a proper medical diagnosis from your doctor before proceeding with any remedies.

By: Alvin Toh

Migraine is a common cause of suffering in most people, resulting in lost work days. There is no need to live with the pain of a migraine headache. Visit our website for daily update migraine headache resources and natural ways to relieve migraine at www.relievemigraineheadache.com/home

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